This happy hump day for the Australian markets followed a far less optimistic session on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was still feeling blue and dropped another 0.63%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) wasn't any better, losing 0.78% of its value.

But let's return to the local markets now and check out what was happening amongst the different ASX sectors today.

Winners and losers

The biggest losers this Wednesday were consumer staples shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) had a shocker today, dumping 1.15% of its value.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) also had a day to forget, with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) retreating 0.54%.

Financial stocks were on the nose, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) was walked back 0.37% this session.

Our last losers were consumer discretionary shares, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.35% decline.

Let's turn to the green sectors now. Leading the charge were energy stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rocketed 2.19% higher this hump day.

Gold shares had a party as well, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) surging 1.48%.

Broader mining stocks didn't miss out. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soared up 1.28%.

Next came communications shares, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.46% bounce.

Industrial stocks were also in that range. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) added 0.36% to its total today.

Tech shares overcame some selling to close higher, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) putting on 0.3%.

Utilities stocks didn't miss out either. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) saw its value bumped by 0.28%.

Finally, healthcare shares got themselves over the line, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 1.5% surge.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Gold stock Pantoro Gold Ltd (ASX: PNR) came in as our top stock today. Pantoro Gold shares jumped 9.3% to close at $2.82 a share. This came after Pantoro revealed some drilling results this morning, which may have excited investors.

Here's how the other winners pulled up at the kerb:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Many Aussie investors interested in emerging technology, defence, or high-growth markets find themselves comparing Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) and Droneshield Ltd (ASX: DRO). Both companies operate globally, but their approaches, product lines, and recent fortunes are quite different. So, in a battle of Codan vs Droneshield shares, which one looks the better opportunity?

The case for Codan

Codan is a veteran Aussie tech manufacturer with a global footprint. It designs and builds electronics for communications, metal detection, and mining technology, serving government, military, and commercial clients. Through its brands—Codan Communications, Minelab, Minetec, and Defence Electronics—it supplies everything from metal detectors to secure radio systems. Codan's engineering and support reach stretches from Adelaide to Canada, the US, Europe, and the Middle East, with most sales revenue coming from North America.

What stands out about Codan today? Firstly, its year-to-date return is a whopping 60.41%, signalling powerful share price momentum in 2026. Earnings per share sits at $0.705, with a fully franked dividend yield of 1.07%. It's now capped at $8.15 billion, a hefty valuation reflecting its strong global customer base and solid reputation. While the dividend yield isn't high, the payout is consistent and comes with full franking credits.

The case for Droneshield

Droneshield is an Aussie innovator focused squarely on counter-drone technology—a booming niche as drones become a security threat. Its AI-powered devices, like DroneGun Tactical and DroneSentry, are used to detect and neutralise suspicious drones for clients ranging from governments to airports and big venues. Droneshield's operations span Australia, the US, and the UK, and its gear is increasingly vital for critical infrastructure protection.

But when it comes to fundamentals, Droneshield is still on a very different footing to Codan. Its market cap is $1.48 billion—much smaller—which reflects both its status as a newer company and the fact it's still unprofitable, with negative earnings per share of -$0.033. It has no history of paying dividends. Perhaps most striking is this year's share price dive: a 46.10% year-to-date decline for 2026, reflecting a sharp reversal in fortune after a strong run-up in the prior year.

Valuation comparison

Comparing key numbers, you quickly see a gulf in scale, profit, and price.

Codan trades at a much lower P/E than Droneshield. Droneshield's extremely high P/E—despite negative earnings—reflects expectations of future growth, but for now, the profit simply isn't there. Only Codan pays a dividend, and at a fully franked rate, that's a perk for income-focused investors.

Recent share price performance

Looking at the most recent share price history (as of mid-September 2026), Codan has been on a roll. Even with a few day-to-day dips, it's up more than 60% year to date. Its shares reached $44.71 on 14 September 2026, after a strong rally through August.

Droneshield, on the other hand, has had a rough ride. It closed at $1.61 on 14 September 2026, which is down from earlier highs and represents a 46% fall for the year. While there have been some positive trading days in late August, September brought renewed volatility and downward moves.

Which is the better buy?

For me, the choice between Codan and Droneshield comes down to execution and proven growth. Droneshield has exciting technology and huge long-term potential, but right now the numbers are tough to swallow. Revenue growth may be happening, but the lack of profits, the enormous P/E ratio, and the sharp 2026 decline make it a high-risk punt.

Codan, by contrast, is profitable, rewarding shareholders with dividends, and growing sharply in its share price. With a much lower P/E—yet still reflecting optimism—a global business, and 100% franking, it ticks more boxes for a well-balanced portfolio. If I had to pick, my buy would be Codan. While Droneshield is a thrilling underdog, Codan's combination of growth, profitability, and momentum makes it the standout today.

The post Codan vs Droneshield shares: Which is the better buy? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

9 ASX 200 companies are trading ex-dividend today, which means anyone buying the shares from this point won't receive the latest dividend.

This can often lead to the share price dropping by roughly the value of the dividend. But keep in mind that other market movements can still push the shares higher or lower on the day.

According to The Australian, the combined ex-dividend moves are expected to shave around 6 points from the ASX 200 today.

So, which shares should investors be watching?

The ex-dividend moves to watch today

Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares finished Monday at $17.70 and are trading ex-dividend for a fully franked 46 cents per share payout.

The dividend is due to be paid on 29 September.

Wesfarmers Ltd (ASX: WES) shares closed at $79.44 and are going ex-dividend for a fully franked $1.20 per share dividend, with payment scheduled for 7 October.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares ended Monday at $40.31. The supermarket giant is trading ex-dividend for a fully franked 52 cents per share, payable on 25 September.

Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Ltd (ASX: BEN) is another one to watch. Its shares closed at $10.73 and are going ex-dividend for a fully franked 33 cents per share payout, due on 30 September.

Five more ASX 200 shares join the list

Worley Ltd (ASX: WOR) shares finished Monday at $10.22 and are trading ex-dividend for an unfranked 25 cents per share dividend. Payment is due on 30 September.

Endeavour Group Ltd (ASX: EDV) shares closed at $3.14. Its latest dividend is much smaller at 1.2 cents per share, fully franked, and will be paid on 1 October.

Domino's Pizza Enterprises Ltd (ASX: DMP) shares ended Monday at $20.86 and are trading ex-dividend for an unfranked 32.5 cents per share payout, due on 30 November.

Magellan Financial Group Ltd (ASX: MFG) shares closed at $8.98. Its fully franked 25.5 cents per share dividend is going ex-dividend today and is scheduled to be paid on 16 September.

Finally, Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares finished Monday at $46.97 and are going ex-dividend for a fully franked 29 cents per share payout, also due on 16 September.

What should investors expect today?

The main thing to note is that any early weakness in these shares may simply reflect the dividend coming out of the share price.

So, if any of these 9 ASX 200 shares open lower today, I wouldn't read too much into the move straight away.

The post Don't panic if these 9 ASX 200 shares fall today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Hundreds of S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) companies have announced their next dividends this month.

We're helping you keep track of ex-dividend dates with an article every Friday.

Here are the ASX shares going ex-dividend next week.

We've listed the dividend amounts investors will receive and when they'll receive them.

In order to receive a dividend, you must own the ASX share before its ex-dividend date.

ASX shares with ex-dividend dates next week

The post 37 ASX shares going ex-dividend next week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

A company reports rising revenue and profit, only for its share price to sink. Another company remains unprofitable, yet its share price rockets higher.

These reactions can appear irrational. However, they make more sense once investors understand that the market is not simply grading the result.

It is grading the surprise.

A voting machine and a weighing machine

Benjamin Graham, the investor and author who mentored Warren Buffett, famously said:

"In the short run, the market is a voting machine, but in the long run, it is a weighing machine."

Reporting season provides a perfect demonstration.

In the short term, investors are voting on whether a result was better or worse than expected. Those expectations have been shaped by broker forecasts, company guidance, industry conditions, and the narrative surrounding the business.

If a company reports a $50 million loss when analysts feared a $100 million loss, its shares could rise sharply. The business still lost money, but the result was better than expected.

Meanwhile, a company might increase revenue by 20%, only to see its share price tumble because the market expected 30% growth, margins contracted, or management issued a weaker outlook.

The number matters, but the gap between the number and expectations often matters more on the day.

Codan shares jump on strong results

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares closed more than 12% higher after the technology company released its FY26 results.

Codan reported a 30% increase in revenue to $875 million and a 69% rise in net profit after tax to $175.2 million. Its full-year dividend increased by 70% to 48.5 cents per share.

Importantly, Codan also said its communications division had entered FY27 strongly. That forward-looking commentary gave investors new information to weigh, despite Codan having already upgraded its FY26 profit guidance in April.

Zoom out further and the relationship becomes clearer. Codan shares have more than doubled over the past 12 months while the company's revenue, profit margins, and earnings have risen strongly.

The daily jump was a vote on the latest result and outlook. The longer-term rise increasingly reflects the growing weight of the business.

Why IDP Education shares crashed

IDP Education Ltd (ASX: IEL) provided the other side of the lesson.

Its shares closed more than 20% lower following the release of the company's FY26 results.

IDP reported adjusted operating earnings (EBITDA) of $122.9 million, within the guidance range provided earlier in the year. The company also produced strong cash conversion and reduced its overhead cost base by more than originally targeted.

However, the market was more interested in what came next.

Looking ahead, IDP expects challenging market conditions to persist in FY27, with tightening migration and student visa policies likely to weigh on volumes for a third year.

IDP shares are now down around 64% over the past 12 months. Over that period, the company's revenue and profits have fallen steeply.

Again, the one-day move was a vote on expectations. The longer decline has increasingly weighed the deterioration in earnings.

Foolish takeaway

Reporting-day volatility should not be ignored, but it should be interpreted in context.

The first question is what the market expected. The second is what has genuinely changed. The third is whether that change matters to the company's earnings power several years from now.

Investors can then examine the outlook, margins, cash flow, competitive position, and management's capital allocation. These factors usually matter far more than whether a company narrowly beat or missed a broker forecast.

Sometimes a violent share price move signals a genuine structural change. Other times, it is simply a reaction to expectations that were too optimistic or pessimistic.

That distinction is why short-term market timing is so difficult. Investors must correctly predict the result, what everyone else expected, and how the market will react to the difference.

Over longer periods, much of that noise fades. Share prices may still wander, but earnings, cash flow, and business quality gradually place more weight on the scales.

The post What ASX reporting season share price swings really mean appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After opening in the green this morning, the ASX 200 spent the entire day in positive territory. Despite some bumpiness, the index ended up closing 0.33% higher at 9,083.8 points.

This happy session for ASX shares followed a similarly optimistic night over on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a good mood, managing to rise 0.22%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared similarly, gaining 0.16%.

But let's get back to today and our local markets for a closer look at what was going on amongst the various ASX sectors this session.

Winners and losers

Despite today's good mood across the broader market, there were still a few sectors that went backwards.

Leading those losers were financial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) was hit hard today, tanking by 1.93%.

Consumer staples shares were left out in the cold as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) sinking 1.17%.

Industrial stocks were also unlucky. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) slumped 1.05% this session.

Communications shares didn't find many buyers either, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ)'s 0.71% dive.

Next came consumer discretionary stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) copped a 0.27% slide this Thursday.

Our last losers this session were utilities shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) getting a 0.05% reduction.

Let's get to the winners now, though. Leading the green sectors today were gold stocks. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) had an absolute blowout, rocketing up a huge 8.39%.

Broader mining shares were also on fire, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 3.52% surge.

Tech stocks had a day to remember, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) had roared 2.54% higher by the closing bell.

Healthcare shares lived up to their name as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) lifting 1.39%.

Energy stocks enjoyed another positive session. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) put on another 0.45%.

Finally, real estate investment trusts (REITs) got over the line, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ)'s 0.13% jump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

It's very rare that we see ten ASX 200 shares all gain more than 10% in one day, but here we are. Today's winner did much better than 10%, though. Zip Co Ltd (ASX: ZIP) shares exploded 18.22% higher this session to finish at $3.05 each.

This followed the financial stock's latest earnings, which clearly made an impression.

Here's how the other top stocks tied up at the dock:

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What did Codan report?

• Revenue up 30% to $874.97 million
• Net profit after tax (NPAT) up 69% to $175.18 million
• EBIT up 67% to $244.08 million
• Fully franked full-year dividend of 48.5 cents per share (up 70% on FY25)
• Net cash position of $35.7 million at 30 June 2026
• Earnings per share up 69% to 96.5 cents

What else do investors need to know?

Codan's Communications business (including DTC and Zetron) reported revenue of $506.2 million, up 22%, with segment profit up 45% and margins beating long-term targets. The order book jumped 50% to $380 million, underpinned by momentum in unmanned radio systems and strong defence demand.

Minelab, the company's Metal Detection division, achieved record results, with revenue rising 42% to $362 million and segment profit up 65%. New product launches, like the flagship GPZ8000 gold detector, helped drive growth, particularly in Africa and the rest of the world.

Codan also completed the acquisition of US-based Adaptive Dynamics after year-end, further strengthening its technical offerings for defence customers. Codan finished FY26 with a solid net cash position and significant undrawn debt facilities, giving the board flexibility for future investment and growth initiatives.

What's next for Codan?

For FY27, Codan is targeting revenue growth of around 20%, supported by high defence spending and continued demand for both unmanned communications systems and advanced gold detectors. A full-year contribution from recently launched Minelab products and new client wins in Communications are expected to underpin momentum.

The company says it will continue investing in people, systems, and new product development, with an eye for further acquisitions aligned with its technology and market strategy. The board is optimistic about ongoing growth opportunities and plans to update investors further at the annual general meeting in October.

Codan share price snapshot

Over the past 12 months, Codan shares have surged 84%, significantly outpacing the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).

View Original Announcement

The post Codan FY26: Profit surges 69% with higher dividend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This rather woeful Wednesday for the local markets followed a similarly downbeat night up on Wall Street.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was in a foul mood, dropping 0.34%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) was even more cross, falling 0.6%.

But let's get back to the Australian boards now and dive a little deeper into how the various ASX sectors handled this hump day's tough trading conditions.

Winners and losers

There were only a few sectors that escaped today's session intact.

But first, it was real estate investment trusts (REITs) that bore the brunt of investors' displeasure. The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) took a 1.02% plunge this Wednesday.

Consumer discretionary stocks were on the nose as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) tanking 0.81%.

We could say the same for communications shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) cratered 0.79%.

Consumer staples stocks were in that ballpark as well, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ)'s 0.76% dive.

Next came industrial stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) sank 0.67% this session.

Financial shares didn't get a break either, with the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) tumbling 0.59%.

Energy stocks weren't riding to the rescue. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) dipped down 0.42% today.

Nor were mining shares, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ)'s 0.19% slide.

Our last losers were healthcare stocks. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) was sent down 0.09% this Wednesday.

Let's turn to the winners now. Leading the charge were utilities shares, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) galloping 2.54% higher.

Gold stocks were a safe haven too. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) jumped 0.3% today.

Finally, tech shares held up well, evident by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.16% advance.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) was our winner this Wednesday. Codan shares enjoyed a big surge in demand today, shooting 9.3% higher to $44.54 a share by close.

There wasn't any price-sensitive news out from the company today, although perhaps investors got some inspiration from a presentation released this morning.

Here's how the other winners landed their planes: 

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

This happy Tuesday session for ASX investors came despite a more downbeat start to the American trading week on Wall Street last night.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) was volatile but ended up closing down 0.11%.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) did a little bit worse, dropping 0.32%.

But let's get back to the local markets now and take stock of how the different ASX sectors fared amid today's sunny market conditions.

Winners and losers

Despite the market's rise, there were a few sectors that still went backwards.

Leading those losers were consumer staples shares. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was hit hard today, plunging 1.46%.

Tech shares were punished as well, with the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) diving 0.83%.

Industrial stocks weren't much better. The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) ended up sinking 0.75% this Tuesday.

Financial shares followed industrials, as you can see from the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.35% dip.

Communications stocks had a day to forget as well. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) saw its value slide 0.29% today.

Our last losers were real estate investment trusts (REITs), with the S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) slipping 0.14% lower.

Turning to the green sectors now, it was energy shares that led the winners. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) had soared a huge 3.91% by the close of trading.

Healthcare stocks also ran hot, evidenced by the S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ)'s 2.15% surge.

Utilities shares were in demand, too. The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) jumped 0.98% this Tuesday.

Then we had mining stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) adding 0.51% to its tally.

Gold shares kept up their recent run. The All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) advanced another 0.45% this session.

Finally, consumer discretionary shares didn't miss out, illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ)'s 0.22% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Our top stock this Tuesday, and by a mile, was shipbuilder Austal Ltd (ASX: ASB). Austal shares roared 17.45% higher today to finish at $4.51 each.

This big gain followed the company's latest earnings, which included a revelation that Austal has had some takeover interest.

Here's how the other top stocks tied up at the dock: 

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Investors in Australia were inspired to buy tech stocks after more strong US earnings reports last week.

Amazon and Apple reported big quarterly earnings that helped allay fears over artificial intelligence (AI).

This followed robust earnings reports from Microsoft and Google parent, Alphabet, the week before.

eToro analyst Josh Gilbert said 86% of US companies had beat expectations so far this season.

He added:

… big tech delivered answers to the AI question marks.

That's the template for the local market to follow, because Wall Street's rally has been earned by results while the ASX is still waiting on its own.

The 8.4% gain for ASX 200 tech shares last week follows an 8.2% rise the week before.

The tech sector is recovering from a dramatic 48% slump between August 2025 and March this year.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) is now up 27% since bottoming out on 30 March.

The broader market is also on a roll.

The ASX 200 has risen for four consecutive months, and hit a new record of 9,296.7 points on Thursday.

After just five weeks of trading in FY27, the ASX 200 is already up 5.5%.

That's significant after just 2.8% growth in FY26 (total return, including dividends, was 7%).

Investors have been buoyed by cooler inflation, which lowers the risk of more interest rate hikes for now.

The market also remains hopeful that an Iran-Oman deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz will be finalised soon.

The August earnings season will provide an important test for the ASX 200's momentum, said Gilbert.

The ASX reaching this new high has been helped by pretty much the whole index, with broad-based gains across the board. 

Over the next month, corporate Australia has to show the numbers to match the market's confidence.

Our reporting calendar shows when the big ASX 200 names are releasing their results this season.

Tech shares lead for a second week

The WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) share price soared 12.89% to $40.98 last week.

The Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) share price rose 9.37% to $76.56.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares ascended 6.47% to $32.75 apiece.

The Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) share price jumped 11.39% to $28.56.

The Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) share price leapt 11.49% to $20.18.

The Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT) share price rose 6.96% to $14.29.

Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) shares lifted 5.19% to $13.18 apiece.

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares rose 2.45% to finish at $41.06 on Friday.

The Elsight Ltd (ASX: ELS) share price soared 26.48% to $7.07 on a record quarterly report.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 tech shares lead again as big US earnings inspire local confidence appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But the company's DTC division, which it acquired back in 2021, has developed radio technology for use on drone platforms, which has piqued the interest of the analysts at Macquarie.

Major opportunity for ASX drone players

The Macquarie team said in a recent note to clients that there is expected to be exponential growth in drone spending, citing a recent NATO initiative called "drone edge", which envisages US$40 billion worth of investment in the sector from more than 30 countries.

They added:

As we mentioned in a previous report, the US Department of War's 2027 budget overview includes US$53.6bn in funding for drone and autonomous systems and US$21bn for counter drone technologies. This dedicated investment into autonomous systems' procurement, domestic production capacity and advanced capabilities is being divided across multiple specialised programs.

They said in relation to Codan:

When encompassing estimated communication layer drone costs and US-specific programs, together these frame a large, multi-year, structurally growing US demand pool that plays directly to DTC's niche. DTC's key offering of resilient datalink, mesh-networking and electronic warfare hardened communications layer is directly linked to various components that multi-domain drone and unmanned systems require.

The Macquarie team said beyond the US, "DTC also has significant opportunities in the European region as noted by management back at the 1H26 result''.

They added:

Europe has emerged as a structurally attractive opportunity as the recent step-change in defence spending driven by the war in Ukraine and NATO eastern-flank deterrence is flowing into unmanned-systems and resilient communications categories where DTC competes.

Macquarie said the Asia-Pacific region was also shaping up as one of the most compelling regions for DTC, driven by a surge in defence spending.

Australia itself was a "high-conviction oppoprtunity", with the company's radios already selected for the Land 129 UAV project.

Macquarie added regarding the company:

To meet surging international demand for secure communications solutions as a part of the increasing demand for drones and uncrewed systems, DTC has established a multi-country manufacturing footprint, expanding production outside the US. The newer established manufacturing locations for DTC, the United Kingdom and Australia, help to de-risk global supply chains. This expansion in manufacturing positions DTC well to capture opportunities across different regions globally.

Shares looking cheap

Macquarie has a price target of $48.50 on Codan shares compared with $43.25 currently.

The company is valued at $8.09 billion.

The post How high does Macquarie think this ASX drone technology company will go? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

After opening sharply lower at the start of morning trading, the ASX 200 did recover a little over the day. But it wasn't nearly enough to save investors from a loss. By the time trading finished, the index had lost 0.26% and closed at 8,762.5 points.

This depressing Thursday for the local markets came after a mixed night over on the US markets.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) wasn't in a good place, dropping 1.09%.

However, the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index (NASDAQ: .IXIC) fared far better, rising 0.2%.

Let's get back to the local markets now and check out how today's tough trading conditions have percolated down into the various ASX sectors.

Winners and losers

Despite the market's bad mood this Thursday, there were plenty of sectors that were spared from a sell-down.

But first, it was mining stocks that got slammed the hardest today. The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) ended up crashing 1.48% lower.

Gold shares had another rough one too, with the All Ordinaries Gold Index (ASX: XGD) tumbling 1.24%.

We can say the same for real estate investment trusts (REITs). The S&P/ASX 200 A-REIT Index (ASX: XPJ) sank 1.1% by the closing bell.

Financial stocks were a little better, though, as illustrated by the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ)'s 0.15% slip.

Turning to the green sectors now, energy shares had a blowout. The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) ended up surging 1.67% higher.

Utilities stocks also ran hot, with the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) soaring 1.28%.

Consumer staples shares were solid. The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) galloped 0.97% higher this session.

Tech stocks were in demand too, as you can see by the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ)'s 0.92% bounce.

Communications shares fared decently. The S&P/ASX 200 Communication Services Index (ASX: XTJ) added 0.89% to its total today.

As did consumer discretionary stocks, with the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) advancing 0.58%.

Healthcare shares stayed afloat. The S&P/ASX 200 Healthcare Index (ASX: XHJ) lifted 0.13% this Thursday.

Finally, industrial stocks got over the line, evident from the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ)'s 0.12% bump.

Top 10 ASX 200 shares countdown

Today's top stock was building supplies company Fletcher Building Ltd (ASX: FBU). Fletcher shares rocketed 7.55% this session to $2.99 each.

This followed the stock releasing some updated earnings guidance, which investors clearly appreciated.

Here's how the other winners pulled up at the kerb: 

Our top 10 shares countdown is a recurring end-of-day summary that shows which companies made big moves on the day. Check in at Fool.com.au after the weekday market closes to see which stocks make the countdown.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

That return was comprised of 2.77% capital growth and a 4.23% average dividend yield.

That's an improvement on last year's payout.

In FY25, dividends made up 3.84% of the total 13.81% return.

That was well below the long-term average of about 4.5%.

This last financial year, the market moved closer to the norm.

What pushed dividend yields higher last year?

The increase partly reflects higher earnings among resources companies due to rising commodity prices.

This contributed to an outstanding performance in the ASX 200 materials sector, which lead the 11 market sectors last year.

Materials stocks soared 47.48% and paid a healthy above-average dividend yield of 4.63%.

The energy sector paid an even higher dividend yield at 5.14% in FY26.

But neither paid the best dividend yield of the 11 market sectors.

That title belongs to a much more defensive segment.

Experts say capital gains tax (CGT) changes may prompt investors to seek better yield.

If that rings true for you, the following list will give you a general guide as to which sectors pay best.

Let's take a look at the dividend yields of each of the 11 market sectors in FY26.

Which ASX sectors delivered the best dividend yields?

The sectors are listed in order of highest dividend yield for FY26.

Utilities

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) last year was 11.87%.

Dividends made up 5.98% of that total return.

Energy infrastructure company APA Group (ASX: APA) was the sector's best performer for growth.

APA Group shares rose 24%, and are currently trading on a trailing dividend yield of 5.84%.

Energy

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) was 14.51%.

Dividends represented 5.14% of that return.

ASX 200 coal  producer New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) had the strongest share price growth at 44%.

New Hope Corporation shares have a trailing dividend yield of 4.78%.

Materials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) was 52.11% in FY26. 

Dividends made up 4.63% of that return.

The best performer was gold explorer, Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6), which rocketed 508% in FY26.

Minerals 260 does not pay dividends.

The largest company in the materials sector is BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP), which has a trailing yield of 3.47%.

Consumer Staples

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) was 13.72%. 

Dividends represented 3.63% of that return.

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) was the top-performing consumer staples share, rising 29%.

Woolworths shares have a trailing yield of 2.24%.

Financials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) was 1.69%. 

The index lost 1.89% of its market cap last year, but dividends of 3.58% brought the sector into the green.

New Zealand-based infrastructure investment company, Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) was the fastest riser, lifting 29%.

Infratil shares have a trailing dividend yield of 1.22%.

Industrials

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) was 5.24%.

Dividends made up 3.55% of that return.

Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) shares were the fastest risers, rocketing 261%.

Electro Optic Systems does not pay dividends.

The biggest company in the sector is Transurban Group (ASX: TCL), which has a trailing yield of 4.68%.

Real estate & REITs

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XPJ) was a negative 2.24%.

The index dropped 5.32% in FY26, but an average dividend yield of 3.08% mitigated the capital loss.

Property fund manager Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) outperformed with capital growth of 19%.

The ASX 200 real estate investment trust (REIT) has a trailing dividend yield of 2.3%.

Communications

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) was a negative 9.41%.

The sector lost 12.4% of its value, but an average dividend yield of 2.99% partially offset the loss.

Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) shares rose the most, lifting 26%.

Aussie Broadband has a trailing dividend yield of 1.03%.

Consumer discretionary

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) produced a negative total return of 1.21%.

The index fell 3.56%, but an average dividend yield of 2.35% reduced the impact.

The Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) share price experienced the most growth, rising 22%.

Eagers Automotive shares have a trailing dividend yield of 3.43%.

Healthcare

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) was a negative 36.15%.

The healthcare index fell 37.4%, and an average dividend yield of 1.25% did little to buoy investors' spirits.

4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) was the outperformer, with its share price skyrocketing 1,786%.

4DMedical does not pay dividends.

The largest company in the sector is CSL Ltd (ASX: CSL), which has a trailing dividend yield of 3.38%.

The healthcare sector is experiencing an extraordinary bounce back, with value investors returning just last month.

Since the pivot point on 3 June, the healthcare index has soared 23%.

Technology

The total return for the S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) was a negative 36.97%.

The index lost 37.22% of its value, and a tiny average dividend yield of 0.25% was barely noticeable to investors.

The Aussie tech sector is comprised predominately of younger growth companies, and not many pay dividends yet.

ASX 200 tech shares tanked in FY26, with only four shares experiencing capital growth.

The stand-out was Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares, which rocketed 119%.

Codan shares have a trailing dividend yield of 0.8%.

Technology is also on the rebound after bottoming out on 30 March.

The post Which ASX 200 sectors paid the highest dividend yields in FY26? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) shares rose by 2.77% and provided total gross returns (including dividends) of 7% in FY26.

Thirteen ASX 200 shares doubled in value — or better — over the 12 months.

Three of them were ASX 200 gold miners, which benefited from an 18% rise in the gold price last year.

Four were lithium miners, which generated turbocharged earnings amid a 278% lift in the spodumene price and a 160% rise in the carbonate price over FY26.

While healthcare was the worst-performing sector, the ASX 200's fastest rising stock came from it and blasted 1,786% higher!

Let's check out this group of ASX 200 double baggers for FY26.

Double-baggers of FY26

1. 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX)

This ASX healthcare share skyrocketed 1,786% in FY26 to close out the year at $4.53.

The respiratory imaging technology company gained US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for its CT:VQ product in September 2025.

CT:VQ has since been deployed at several well-known academic hospitals and clinics.

One broker thinks there is more room to run for 4DMedical shares in FY27.

2. Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6)

This ASX 200 gold share ripped 508% to finish FY26 at 73 cents.

Minerals 260 is building the Bullabulling Gold Project near Kalgoorlie in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields region.

3. Elevra Lithium Ltd (ASX: ELV)

This ASX 200 lithium share flew 327% to $9.60 over FY26.

Elevra has a globally diversified portfolio of mines and projects across Québec, North Carolina, Ghana, and Western Australia.

4. PLS Group Ltd (ASX: PLS)

This fellow ASX lithium share leapt 275% to close out FY26 at $5.02.

The company's flagship project is Pilgangoora, the world's largest independent hard-rock lithium mine.

Formerly known as Pilbara Minerals, PLS Group was the best performer among the ASX 200 large-cap shares last year.

5. Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS)

The Electro Optic Systems share price increased 261% to close the year at $10.30.

This made Electro Optic the best-performing stock of the industrials sector in FY26.

The company specialises in defence technology, advanced weapon systems, and counter-drone solutions.

6. Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)

The Mineral Resources share price rose 188% in FY26.

The ASX large-cap mining share finished the year at $62.07.

Value investors returned to Mineral Resources after corporate governance and financial problems crushed the stock in FY25.

Mineral Resources reported its best half-year result ever for 1H FY26. The miner reported record revenue of $3.1 billion and EBITDA of $1.2 billion due to rising lithium prices and the successful ramp-up of its Onslow iron ore project.

7. NRW Holdings Limited (ASX: NWH)

This ASX 200 industrials share soared 149% to finish the year at $7.44.

8. Liontown Ltd (ASX: LTR)

This ASX 200 lithium share rose 142% to finish the year at $1.69.

For 1H FY26, Liontown reported doubled revenue after a 70% lift in spodumene production.

In 3Q FY26, Liontown became cash flow positive and hit its 1.5Mtpa annualised underground run-rate ahead of schedule.

9. SRG Global Ltd (ASX: SRG)

This ASX 200 industrials share rose 136% to finish the year at $3.98.

10. Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)

This ASX 200 tech share lifted 119.5% to finish the year at $44.14.

ASX 200 tech shares tanked in FY26, with only four finishing the year in the green.

11. Kingsgate Consolidated Ltd (ASX: KCN)

This ASX 200 gold share rose 119% to finish the year at $4.95.

12. Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)

This ASX 200 rare earths share increased 115% to close out the year at $18.06.

An 80% lift in the neodymium price, and restricted rare earths exports out of China helped Lynas shares grow in FY26.

13. Alkane Resources Ltd (ASX: ALK)

This ASX 200 gold share rose 92% to finish the year at $1.37.

The post 13 ASX 200 shares that doubled in value in FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The downturn led to technology being the second-worst performer of the 11 market sectors in FY26.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) fell 37.22% and delivered total negative returns of 36.97%. 

Tech investors had much on their minds last financial year.  

Firstly, they became worried that high share price valuations and massive artificial intelligence (AI) investment in the US may create an AI bubble. 

Some experts likened the AI boom to the internet boom of the late 1990s. They warned that excessive investor enthusiasm could lead to a dot-com-style correction.

That fear spread throughout the sector quickly, with ASX 200 tech shares peaking in September and entering a bear market just two months later.

A bear market is defined as a 20% (or more) fall from the most recent high point.

There were also fears that AI may decimate software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers after Anthropic released a new legal plug-in for its agentic AI assistant, Claude, in early 2026. 

Within a week, shares in Thomson Reuters, whose SaaS platforms Westlaw and Practical Law serve legal professionals, had lost a fifth of its valuation. 

The SaaS concern hit ASX 200 tech shares hard given four of our six largest companies by market capitalisation are SaaS providers.

Wisetech shares weighed the sector down 

WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC), which was previously the market's largest listed tech company, was also a significant drag on the sector in FY26. 

Investors were disappointed with Wisetech's FY25 earnings, released in August, and governance issues became a big distraction. 

Wisetech went on to become the worst performer of the entire ASX 200 in FY26, dropping 70% in value. 

The company lost its status as the sector's largest stock by market cap to Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO) in May. 

A strong turnaround for ASX 200 and US tech shares began on 31 March. Since then, ASX 200 tech shares have rebounded by almost 20%. 

Here are the three winners of the tech sector last financial year. 

1. Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA)

Electronics solutions provider Codan delivered the best capital growth among ASX 200 tech shares in FY26.

The Codan share price skyrocketed 119.49% to finish the year at $44.14.

Codan designs and manufactures electronics solutions, including communications equipment and metal detectors, for government, corporate, NGO, and consumer clients worldwide. 

The company reported a 55% increase in net profit after tax (NPAT) to $71.2 million for 1H FY26.

2. Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) 

Megaport provides cloud and data centre connectivity services through a global network-as-a-service (NaaS) platform.

The Megaport share price ripped 49.45% to finish FY26 at $21.58. 

In June, Megaport announced it had won four new AI infrastructure contracts worth $458.9 million.

The new work required significant capex, so Megaport ran a fully underwritten $827.3 million entitlement offer at $14.30 per share.

3. Data#3 Ltd (ASX: DTL)

Data#3 is an information and communications technology (ICT) provider. 

The Data#3 share price rose 29.43% to $9.85 on 30 June. 

Data#3 reported a 9% lift in gross sales to $1.54 billion for 1H FY26. Statutory revenue increased 8% to $423 million.

The NPAT was 3.7% higher at $23 million. 

The post ASX 200 tech shares tanked in FY26, but there were 3 winners appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The benchmark index hit a record 9,202.9 points on 26 February before finishing the year at 8,778.7 points on 30 June.

There are 11 market sectors within the ASX 200.

In this article, we name the top-performing shares by capital growth in each market sector. 

No. 1 shares of the ASX 200 market sectors 

These were the No.1 shares of each market sector based on 12-month share price growth (excluding dividends).

We have listed the sectors from strongest to weakest.

Six of the 11 sectors declined in value last year. 

Materials

The ASX 200 materials sector was the best performer by far. 

The S&P/ASX 200 Materials Index (ASX: XMJ) soared 47.48% and produced total returns of 52.11% in FY26. 

Australia is in the midst of a new mining boom with five key factors driving a new commodities supercycle.

The green energy transition, artificial intelligence (AI) build-out, and central banks diversifying their reserves with gold drove strong commodity price rises in FY26.

The best performing share within the ASX 200 materials sector was gold explorer, Minerals 260 Ltd (ASX: MI6).

The Minerals 260 share price ripped 508% to finish at 73 cents per share on 30 June. 

Consumer Staples

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Staples Index (ASX: XSJ) rose 10.09% and delivered total returns of 13.72%. 

Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) was the top-performing consumer staples share of the year.

The Woolworths share price rose 28.67% to $40.03 in FY26.

Energy

The S&P/ASX 200 Energy Index (ASX: XEJ) rose 9.37% and delivered total gross returns of 14.51%.

ASX 200 coal  producer New Hope Corporation Ltd (ASX: NHC) recorded the strongest share price growth.

New Hope Corporation shares increased 44.32% to finish the year at $5.34 per share.

Utilities

The S&P/ASX 200 Utilities Index (ASX: XUJ) rose 5.89% and delivered a total return of 11.87%.

Energy infrastructure company APA Group (ASX: APA) was the best performer of the utilities sector. 

The APA Group share price ascended 24.11% to finish FY26 at $10.14.  

Industrials

The S&P/ASX 200 Industrials Index (ASX: XNJ) edged 1.69% higher and produced total returns of 5.24%.

ASX 200 defence share Electro Optic Systems Holdings Ltd (ASX: EOS) recorded the highest capital growth.

The Electro Optic Systems share price soared 261% to finish the year at $10.30. 

Financials

The S&P/ASX 200 Financials Index (ASX: XFJ) fell 1.89% in value, but dividends lifted the total return into the green at 1.69%. 

New Zealand-based infrastructure investment company, Infratil Ltd (ASX: IFT) was the best performer of the financials sector.

The Infratil share price lifted 28.8% to finish the year at $12.61.

Consumer discretionary

The S&P/ASX 200 Consumer Discretionary Index (ASX: XDJ) fell 3.56% and produced a total negative return of 1.21%.

The Eagers Automotive Ltd (ASX: APE) share price experienced the most growth in the consumer discretionary sector. 

The Eagers Automotive share price rose 21.83% to finish the year at $21.26. 

Real estate & REITs

The S&P/ASX 200 Real Estate Index (ASX: XPJ) dropped 5.32% and delivered a total negative return of 2.24%.

Property fund manager Charter Hall Group (ASX: CHC) outshone its property sector peers.

The ASX real estate investment trust (REIT) rose 19.12% to $22.66 on 30 June. 

Communications

The S&P/ASX 200 Communications Index (ASX: XTJ) tanked 12.4% and delivered a negative total return of 9.41%.

Telco stock Aussie Broadband Ltd (ASX: ABB) rose the most in FY26. 

The Aussie Broadband share price ripped 26.09% to $4.93 on 30 June.

Technology

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) dove 37.22%, with a total negative return of 36.97% in FY26. 

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares outperformed in the technology sector last year.

The Codan share price screamed 119.49% higher to $44.14 on 30 June.

Healthcare

Healthcare was the worst-performing sector of FY26.

The S&P/ASX 200 Health Care Index (ASX: XHJ) tumbled 37.4% and delivered a negative total return of 36.15%.

The 4DMedical Ltd (ASX: 4DX) share price was absolutely unstoppable in FY26. 

Shares in 4DMedical skyrocketed 1,786% to $4.53 on 30 June. 

The respiratory imaging tech company was not only the shining star of the healthcare sector.

It was also the No. 1 stock for capital growth overall in FY26.

The post Top ASX 200 share of each market sector in FY26 appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

But which one is a buy, which one is a hold, and which one is a sell? Here's my take on all three ASX shares.

CBA shares

CBA remains my preferred ASX bank share.

That does not mean it is the cheapest bank on the market. It often trades at a premium to the other major banks, and investors should be realistic about that.

But I think CBA deserves a higher valuation because it is the highest-quality bank in Australia, in my view.

The bank has a powerful retail franchise, a large deposit base, a strong brand, leading digital capability, and a track record of managing risk well. Those qualities are valuable in a banking sector where competition remains intense and economic conditions are not always easy.

I also like CBA for its dividend profile. It may not always offer the highest yield among the big banks, but I think the combination of income, quality, and potential capital growth makes it attractive for long-term investors.

In a more uncertain environment, I would rather own the bank I think is best positioned than simply buy the one that looks cheapest.

That is why I would call CBA shares a buy.

Codan shares

Codan is a harder call. I am a big fan of the business. The company has built strong positions across areas such as metal detection, communications, and technology used by customers in defence, security, mining, and other specialist markets.

I like businesses that sell products where reliability, field performance, and customer trust really count. Codan has spent years building that kind of reputation.

The challenge is the share price. Codan has recently hit a record high, which makes me more cautious in the short term. A great business can still become harder to buy when the market has already rewarded it strongly.

That does not mean I would sell. I think Codan still has plenty of long-term appeal, particularly if it can keep investing in product development, expanding its customer base, and growing in attractive global niches.

But after such a strong run, I would be more inclined to hold than buy aggressively this week.

Woodside shares

Woodside is the ASX share I would sell. The energy giant can generate large cash flows when oil and gas markets are supportive, and it has been a major dividend payer for many investors. But I think the outlook has become less attractive.

Oil price weakness is a key reason. Easing tensions in the Middle East and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz have reduced some of the geopolitical pressure that had supported energy prices.

At the same time, the longer-term picture is changing. Growing electric vehicle adoption may gradually reduce demand growth for transport fuels, particularly in developed markets.

Woodside still has valuable assets, and energy demand will not disappear overnight. But I think investors need to be selective with cyclical resource shares. When the commodity price backdrop weakens, earnings and dividends can come under pressure quickly.

For me, the risk/reward does not look compelling enough right now.

Foolish takeaway

If I had to choose between these three ASX shares today, I would buy CBA, hold Codan, and sell Woodside.

CBA offers the quality I want in a major bank. Codan remains an excellent business, but its record-high share price makes me more patient. Finally, Woodside faces a softer oil price backdrop and longer-term demand questions that make me cautious.

The post Buy, hold, sell: CBA, Codan, and Woodside shares appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

At the time of writing, the Codan share price is up 3.54% to $44.99. 

Earlier in afternoon trade, the stock climbed as high as $45.28, marking an all-time high. 

Looking at the bigger picture, Codan shares are now up 60% in 2026 and around 120% over the past 12 months.

Director buying adds to the momentum

The latest spark appears to be a change of director's interest notice lodged with the ASX. 

According to the notice, non-Executive Director Heith Mackay-Cruise indirectly bought another 1,200 Codan shares on 25 June through MC Investment Nominees Pty Ltd. 

The shares were bought in two parcels of 600 apiece at $43.36 and $43.33.

That means the director spent $52,014 of his own money buying Codan shares. 

It's not a huge purchase beside Codan's market capitalisation, which is now above $8 billion. But the timing has caught attention, with the stock hitting a new all-time high today after already more than doubling in the past year.

The business backdrop is still strong

The buying also comes after a much stronger year from the underlying business.

Codan makes communications and metal detection products, with brands and divisions including Minelab, DTC, and Zetron.  

In April, the company told investors that the group was trading ahead of expectations in the second half of FY26.

Management now expects FY26 EBIT of about $235 million and net profit after tax (NPAT) of about $170 million. Both would be more than 60% higher than FY25.

The Communications business is expected to deliver revenue growth at the top end of its 15% to 20% target range. Codan also expects that division to hit a 30% profit margin in FY26, a year earlier than its previous target. 

Defence and gold are doing the heavy lifting

Two areas are helping Codan at the moment.

The first is defence. Codan said demand from defence customers for unmanned systems continues to support growth in its software-defined radios business.   

It also recently agreed to acquire Adaptive Dynamics' intellectual property, which is focused on anti-jamming and interference mitigation technologies. 

The second is gold. 

Codan's Minelab business has been benefiting from strong gold detector demand, helped by favourable market conditions and new product releases. 

Can the rally keep going?

Codan has given investors plenty of reasons to stay interested, but the bar is now much higher.

The stock has already climbed to a fresh record high of $45.28, so that level will be one to watch in the near term. If the share price eases, the $43 to $44 range could be where buyers start to take another look.

The next key date is Codan's FY26 full-year result on 20 August. 

The post This ASX 200 stock just hit a record high. Is insider buying adding fuel to the rally? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

The post Here are the top 10 ASX 200 shares today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Meanwhile, the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) slipped 1.22% to close at 8,625.1 points on Friday.

ASX 200 tech shares are continuing to recover from a 48% sector meltdown between 29 August 2025 and 30 March 2026.

Fears over the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) drove the decline, but ASX investors appear to be over it.

The S&P/ASX 200 Information Technology Index (ASX: XIJ) is now up 26% since 31 March vs. a 1.9% lift for the rest of the market.

Six of the 11 market sectors finished in the green last week.

Let's review.

ASX 200 tech shares outperform by a long shot

Let's take a look at how the major ASX 200 tech shares performed last week.

The market's largest tech company by market cap, Xero Ltd (ASX: XRO), rose 5.45% to $79.27 per share.

The WiseTech Global Ltd (ASX: WTC) share price zoomed 10.55% to close at $39.81 on Friday.

Investors in Megaport Ltd (ASX: MP1) shares had an exciting week that ended with a 19.07% share price rise to $18.48.

On Friday, Megaport shares were the best performers of the ASX 200, reaching a new 52-week high of $21.16.

This followed news of four new AI infrastructure contracts worth $458.9 million and a fully underwritten $827.3 million entitlement offer.

TechnologyOne Ltd (ASX: TNE) shares rose 8.34% to $32.33 apiece, while Nextdc Ltd (ASX: NXT) lifted 4.07% to $15.86.

The Life360 Inc (ASX: 360) share price soared 13.81% to $22.

Codan Ltd (ASX: CDA) shares rose 2.46% to finish at $43.70 apiece on Friday.

The Siteminder Ltd (ASX: SDR) share price lifted 10% to $3.85.

Objective Corporation Ltd (ASX: OCL) shares ascended 8.12% to $11.32.

The Catapult Sports Ltd (ASX: CAT) share price rose 8.31% to $3.65.

Dicker Data Ltd (ASX: DDR) shares lifted 7.72% to $11.16 apiece.

ASX 200 market sector snapshot

Here's how the 11 market sectors stacked up last week, according to CommSec data.

Over the five trading days:

The post ASX 200 tech stocks led the market with big share price gains last week appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.